Sean Murphy DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is eager for a rebound in 2025 after a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw him slash just .193/.284/.352 with 10 home runs, 25 RBI and 19 runs scored in 233 at-bats. But it was only the year prior in 2023 that he was the National League's starting catcher in the All-Star game. A strained oblique on Opening Day last year played a big part in his poor performance and caused him to miss two months. The 30-year-old hit .251 with 21 home runs and an .843 OPS in his first year in Atlanta, so a bounce-back is entirely possible for the former A's backstop. With Travis d'Arnaud no longer in town, Murphy could end up catching four out of every five games for the Braves in 2025. Savvy fantasy managers can snag Murphy at a discount in drafts this spring while hoping for a bounce-back performance with better health. He's RotoBaller's No. 15 fantasy catcher.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy will not start in Game 1 of the team's big doubleheader on Monday at Truist Park against the division-rival New York Mets. With Murphy resting, Travis d'Arnaud will catch right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach and will bat seventh against Mets right-hander Tylor Megill. In nine career at-bats versus Megill, d'Arnaud is batting .222 with a .555 OPS. The Braves have elected to rest Murphy more in his second year with the team while also missing time with injuries. The 29-year-old backstop was a first-time All-Star in 2023 but has struggled in 71 games in 2024, hitting .194/.280/.353 with 10 homers and 25 RBI in 261 plate appearances. He has just four hits in 45 at-bats (.089) in 13 September games, but two of those hits have cleared the fences. d'Arnaud has been a bit more consistent with a .235 average, 15 homers and 48 RBI in 98 games in 2024.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. This appears to be a routine rest day for Murphy who has started in six of the last seven games. It's worth noting that fellow catcher Travis d'Arnaud returned from the injured list over the weekend. He'll do the catching and bat fifth versus right-hander Bailey Ober on Monday. The 35-year-old is hitting .253 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 81 games this season. Between the two, d'Arnaud is the better option in fantasy leagues, but his value is dependent on his playing time.